Columbia responds to outcry over beloved ‘Busted Plug’ sculpture being left in a field
Following outcry over how the sculpture is currently being stored, the city of Columbia has issued a statement reaffirming plans to maintain and eventually reinstall the beloved 40-foot fire hydrant known as “Busted Plug.”
The towering statue sat on Taylor Street in downtown Columbia for more than 20 years before it was removed in 2023 when the property it was built on changed hands.
The city hired a contractor to remove the sculpture in 2023, which required a flatbed semi truck. The city said the contractor was also responsible for storing the large statue.
But now, the nearly 700,000-pound art piece is laying in an open field on the other side of a locked gate. The State published an article earlier this week asking the city why the sculpture appeared to be left in an open field.
At the time, city spokespeople said the sculpture was still being preserved while the city looked for a new place to install it.
On Friday afternoon, following two days of public reaction, the city issued another statement, reiterating at greater length that the sculpture would eventually be reinstalled, and defending its outdoor storage location.
“We recognize that some residents may have concerns about the sculpture’s current storage,” the statement reads. “However, ‘Busted Plug’ was originally designed for outdoor display, and we do not anticipate any issues related to its temporary outdoor storage.”
When the sculpture was moved in 2023, it was not the city’s decision, the statement adds. It was on private property, and the property owners requested it be moved.
“In response, the City took great care to ensure the sculpture, which stands 40 feet tall and weighs approximately 675,000 pounds, was safely and properly relocated,” the statement reads.
The city’s statement did not provide a timeline for when residents would again be able to see the large hydrant properly displayed.
“Our goal is to identify a location that not only showcases the sculpture effectively but also enhances the cultural and aesthetic value of our public spaces,” the statement reads.
City spokesperson Justin Stevens told The State that one of those potential locations could be along the riverfront. The city is actively looking to redevelop a swath of the Congaree, and he said the hydrant could find its way into those plans.
The sculptor behind “Busted Plug” goes by the name Blue Sky. He has voiced frustration and disappointment in the city’s stewardship of his work.
“It was a working fire hydrant,” the artist said in an interview earlier this week. “It actually pumped water, and cost a fortune.”
Blue Sky said he resisted efforts by the city to move the plug, because it was designed specifically for the Taylor Street site.
“A project like that can’t just be hauled off and put somewhere else,” he said. “It was 10 feet below ground. Then they just whacked it off at ground level. That’s like chopping off the top of a plant and leaving the roots.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM.
